Adapter bulb for providing external electrical connection between powered vehicles and trailers



g- 3, 1957 H. J. REICHARDT 3,335,389

ADAPTER BULB FOR PROVIDING EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN POWERED VEHICLES AND TRAILERS Filed Feb. 17, 1965 l 1 I8 I 2o l0 3 46 F/G 2 X 36 3o 2s 32 40 l J 42 INVENTOR I2 38 HARRY J. REICHA'RDT ATTORNEYS United States Patent ADAPTER BULB FOR PROVIDING EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN POW- ERED VEHICLES AND TRAILERS Harry J. Reichardt, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Arcoa, Incorporated, Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Oregon Filed Feb. 17, 1965, er. No. 433,409 1 Claim. (Cl. 33928) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Tail light adapter bulb system for trailers, having separate socket and replaceable bulb.

The present invention relates generally to a tail light adapter bulb system for trailers and in particular to a modified adapter bulb having a separate socket and replaceable bulb for providing external adjunctive electrical connection between station wagons and trailers.

Although the need for providing external electrical connection between station wagon interior panels has has been satisfied with applicants novel adapter bulbs disclosed in application Ser. No. 423,472,'the desirability of utilizing similar adapter bulbs having separate sockets and replaceable bulbs is apparent and constitutes the subject matter of the present invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and more etficient coupling device for making electrical connection between powered vehicles and trailers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an efiicient coupling device for making external electrical connection between station wagons and trailers eliminating the time consuming removal of station wagon interior panels.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide external adjunctive electrical connection between station wagons and trailers with the use of an adapter bulb designed to fit into conventional tail light socket assemblies.

Still a further object of the present invention is to reduce electrical hook-up time between station wagons and trailers with the use of an adapter bulb characterized by a unique separate socket and replaceable bulb fea ture.

Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded component parts of the and FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section illustrating the replaceable bulb inserted within the socket of the subject adapter bulb assembly.

The modified adapter bulb assembly, as seen in FIG. 1,

perspective view illustrating the subject adapter bulb assembly;

member generally designated by the 12. It is suggested that contact member 12 be a standard S.A.E. C-2 double contact indexing lamp base (D.C. index) of inside dimensions designed to accommodate the modified base of its associated bulb, to be described hereinafter. Within the side walls of base are located vertical grooves 14 and 16 which provide passageways for pig-tail leads 18 and 20. Base 10 is also provided with grooves 22 which function as locking supports for securing bulb 24 within socket or base portion 10 with pins 26. It is recommended that bulb 26 be a standard S.A.E. S-8 glass envelope having a modified base, as illustrated. An indexed insulator disk 28, having conductor springs 30 and 32 attached thereto at contact members 34 and 3,335,389 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 36, is located within 'base 10 in spaced relationship from bottom Wall 38. The bottom portions of conductor springs 30 and 32 engage contacts 40 and 42 of contact member 12, as seen in FIG. 2.

Assembly of the adapter bulb is accomplished by inserting pig-tail leads 18 and 20 Within grooves 14 and 16 of base 10 such that the short filament lead 44 of bulb 24 contacts pig-tail lead 18 via contact members 34 of disk 28 which is inserted within base 10. Then, the ends of pig-tail leads 18 and 20 and conductor springs 30 and 32 of disk 28 are soldered to base 10. Thereafter, pigtail leads 18 and 20 are secured to base 10 with suitable adhesive. In this manner, current is permitted to pass from contacts 40 and 42 to pig-tail leads 18 and 20, short filament lead 44 and lead 46. Pig-tail leads 18 and 20 terminate at their other ends in female connectors 48 and 50.

As set forth in application Ser. No. 423,472, lead wires from the electrical system of the trailer extend along its associated hitch and terminates in conventional male connectors for hook-up with female connectors 48 and 50.

With the use of the modified subject adapter bulb, lengthy hook-up time is reduced by eliminating the necessity of removing the station Wagon interior panels to sort and trace wires. With the present invention, as is true in applicants adapter bulbs disclosed in Ser. No. 423,472, hook-up is accomplished simply by removing the existing tail light lens of the station wagon, removing the existing bulb, installing the new adapter bulb assembly with pig-tail leads 18 and 20, and replacing the lens after which female connectors 48 and 50 are secured to the male connectors of the trailer lighting system. In addition, the present modified adapter bulb assembly makes provision for the use of a separate socket and replaceable bulb which constitutes an important advancement over the basic adapter bulb assemblies disclosed in application Ser. No. 423,472.

Manifestly, various changes in construction and design of the present modified adapter bulb assembly may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of invention, as defined by the sub-joined claim.

I claim:

An adapter bulb assembly for inserting within the tail light socket of a powered vehicle for providing external electrical connection to a trailer lighting system comprising:

(A) a base member terminating in a double contact portion, said base member including pasageway means comprising two grooves located on opposite sides thereof and exposed to the inside thereof;

(B) a bulb assembly terminating at the bottom thereof in lead members;

(C) attachment means for securing said bulb assembly within said base member such that said double contact portion and said lead members are held in spaced relationship;

(D) an insulator disc located within said base member providing electrical contact between said double contact portion and said lead members through contact members mounted on both sides thereof, said contact members being in juxtaposition with respect to said double contact portion of said base member and said lead members of said bulb assembly, respectively, said insulator disc further including conductor springs attached thereto and interposed between and engaging said double contact portion of said base member and the respective contact members of said insulator disc; and

(E) lead wires located within said grooves and including first ends connected to said double contact portion and second ends provided with means for 4 electrically communicating with the trailer lighting 2,450,873 10/1948 Antony 339126 system. 3,137,448 6/ 1964 Holzhause 339-188 X References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 23,991 10/1907 Great Britain.

Re. 24,259 12/1956 Hunt 30-710 344,692 6/1886 Thomson at al MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Przmary Exammer.

1,190,750 7/1916- Godley 339-188 PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Examiner- 

